A blog about Northeast energy issues, and in support of nuclear power.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

New England Grid Operator Meeting September 15

The purpose of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) is to be the voice of the electricity consumer in advising the grid operator, ISO-NE. As the annual report states: The Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) is a forum for sharing information between ISO New England (ISO) and those who ultimately use and pay for electricity in New England.

The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group will be next Thursday, September 15, in Providence RI. The topic is Energy Infrastructure. (I am on the Coordinating Committee for the CLG.)

CLG meetings are free, but you should register in advance if you want lunch. Here's the information. The graphic is merely a screen shot, I supply the relevant links below the graphic. I hope to see some of you there.

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The following letter was sent to those who have attended previous CLG meetings. (The meetings are open to the public.) I was given permission to include the letter in this announcement.
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Good Afternoon,

As a past (and hopefully future!) Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) participant, you may find this information interesting as you consider your attendance at the September 15th CLG meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. Earlier this week, the six New England Governors joined with five Eastern Canadian Premiers for their 40th Annual Conference. The Conference, hosted by Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, convened on Sunday and Monday and a variety of regional issues were discussed, including trade, energy diversification, and combating the opioid crisis. Much of the Governors’ and Premiers’ focus was on energy as the Conference heard from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Norman Bay, a panel on “Emerging and Innovative Technologies,” and a second panel on “The Benefits and Importance of Diverse Energy Generation.” While the Conference produced no action items or resolutions, participants and media accounts (see below) alike report productive conversations on a variety of regional energy issues.

In September, the CLG will continue these important discussions. The CLG will hear from Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and a panel on “Energy Infrastructure Projects Progressing in Rhode Island: Challenges and Consumer Impacts Regionwide.” Panelists from Deepwater Wind, Invenergy, National Grid, and Spectra Energy will discuss a variety of generation, transmission, and pipeline projects. The CLG meeting will be held at the Providence Marriott Downtown on September 15, 2016, beginning at noon with lunch. All are invited to continue this discussion of regional energy issues.

The CLG is governed by a Coordinating Committee of up to 12 members with no more than four members from any one of the New England states. The Coordinating Committee sets the agenda for four quarterly meetings each year, which the ISO helps facilitate. Governance of the Consumer Liaison Group is fully explained in the “CLG Purpose and Structure” document available here.